The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 112



< Price >

As the sun was just beginning to set in San Francisco dawn was just beginning to break over Japan.

“Ambassador Roxon please sit over here.”

Katsura Taro rolled his eyes left and right as he guided the tired-looking old British gentleman to his office.

The fact that Roxon who had eaten his fair share of diplomatic food would come to Katsura at dawn despite the rudeness meant that the situation was truly serious.

That’s why Katsura diligently observed the British ambassador’s expressions and gestures and analyzed what he was thinking.

“I guess something urgent has come up? You came to see me so early in the morning.”

Roxxon crossed his legs bent back and crossed his arms at the same time.

The privilege of the ‘Gap’ factor.

I took a comfortable position.

“Prime Minister.”

“Go ahead Ambassador Roxon.”

“Have you not heard the news?”

Katsura is also a politician.

Knowing that the sooner I reveal my cards the more I lose I decided to pretend not to know and observe the ambassador’s reaction.

“What news?”

“News related to Lee Kang.”

“Are you talking about the second prince of Joseon our protectorate?”

“Yes. The royal family in America who is getting married soon. I heard that he was almost assassinated by the Japanese in San Francisco today. Have you really not heard this news?”

“ah…”

Katsura made a face like he finally understood and played it down as if it was nothing serious.

“I heard. That those ruthless mobs tried to assassinate the second prince?”

Oh my god.

Katsura cursed inwardly dozens of times and pretended to care about Lee Kang as much as possible.

“I heard that you are safe thanks to the help of heaven. Hahaha – that’s a relief.”

Roxxon responded to Katsura’s awkward smile with a blank expression.

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“The Prime Minister seems to be speaking from a third-party perspective. Does that mean that the Japanese government was not involved in this matter even a little bit?”

“sure.”

Is it because of the lie?

Katsura showed more exaggerated expressions and gestures than usual.

“How could we have planned and executed such an outrageous act? And at the government level at that?”

Roxxon looked thoughtful for a moment before giving an answer that may have seemed a bit rude.

“…I don’t know. You can’t know what’s in people’s hearts.”

“Ambassador Roxon.”

This old man…

I don’t know what you know but it comes out pretty strong.

Katsura sweated profusely and impressed upon Britain how much Japan was needed.

“Our country is a civilized nation that has even formed an alliance with the British Empire which dominates the entire world. It is also the only nation in Asia that can check Russia.”

“…”

“Would a country like that have done such a reckless thing? Think carefully about it.”

Katsura’s words are as follows.

As a diplomat he ordered that the interests of his country and its allies be prioritized over finding out the truth.

Roxxon nodded at Katsura’s answer and glared at Katsura for a long time.

“Well Japanese officials are rational so they wouldn’t have done something so stupid.”

What?

Katsura was slightly upset but he was not so ignorant as to fall for such provocation.

Roxon looked at Katsura like that and stroked his beard.

“That may be true for me but the problem is… many people have different opinions than the Prime Minister. Oh it’s morning and I’m tired… Could you give me a cup of milk tea?”

Is it because I’m flustered?

Or maybe it was because I visited at dawn?

Japanese officials failed to observe proper protocol.

Look it’s been twenty minutes since Roxon arrived and he hasn’t even brought me a cup of tea.

“Here it is.”

When Roxon pointed this out Katsura’s secretaries hurriedly brought out tea and snacks.

Roxon tried to keep himself awake by sipping milk tea.

Katsura who had been quietly watching this scene continued what he had said earlier.

“Are you talking about the Kaiser of Germany who doesn’t think so?”

Nod nod-

As Roxxon shook his head silently Katsura became angry and started cursing Wilhelm.

“Surely Your Excellency does not believe the nonsense of that delusional mad emperor?”

The Japanese Prime Minister strongly criticizes the German Emperor.

Roxon smiled broadly and began to calculate something.

Germany a rising competitor.

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Satisfied that he had once again created a rift between them and Japan Roxxon said what he had originally wanted to say.

“If only Kaiser thought that way it wouldn’t be a problem. But if it’s America… it would really be a problem.”

For Britain Germany is a rising potential enemy.

But the United States has been a long-time ally and business partner across the ocean.

As a country more important than Japan it could not just sit back and watch Washington’s increasingly intense reaction.

“…”

“…”

Japan knew this too.

Aren’t alliances also important?

So Katsura remained silent and watched what the British ambassador would say.

“Prime Minister.”

“Please speak Ambassador Roxon.”

“One of the victims in this incident is one of our people.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. They say that Baron Rothschild’s son was at the scene.”

Katsura clenched his fist.

What this means now is that Britain understands this incident as well as the United States.

“His testimony has already leaked to Downing Street.”

“…”

“Oh don’t worry too much. We still see Japan as an important partner.”

“Is that so?”

“yes.”

Japan is a very important player in keeping Russia in check.

Britain’s number one competitor is slowly shifting from Russia to Germany.

Britain desperately needed Japan because it could not just sit back and watch Russia.

“However if you continue to lie and try to evade responsibility we may be very disappointed as allies.”

“…”

“I know. The Prime Minister must be feeling wronged. Didn’t the incident get bigger because of the thoughtless thugs who did this?”

The British ambassador gave Katsura what he wanted and the Japanese government treated the matter as a personal matter.

“We understand but the current public opinion in the United States is not like that. If we leave it alone it could become a huge fire that could burn down all the bridges of alliance between us. That is why we must quickly put this to rest.”

“…That’s right.”

“As an ally we will always support the Japanese government so please share the compensation measures you have prepared.”

Roxxon’s words.

It means to stop beating around the bush and come up with a countermeasure or two.

He said that he would cover things up for me as a mediator so don’t waste my time.

Katsura began to make his suggestion feeling slightly humiliated.

“First we will give them full authority to set immigration quotas which the United States wanted last time.”

“And?”

“I plan to reinstate the title of King of Uiwang to the victim Lee Kang.”

“What’s next?”

“…”

Katsura wanted to say only this much.

Because if Lee Kang died as planned and the other big shots weren’t involved I was going to end it with Lee Sun.

If the US comes out stronger than expected it was planned to repatriate some of the people connected to the country.

“Is there anything else?”

“…Yes. That’s it for now.”

Roxxon stared blankly at Katsura for a moment.

I didn’t expect any special measures to return diplomatic rights to the Korean Empire.

That’s because I didn’t think it was something that could be passed over so lightly.

“Prime Minister.”

“Please speak Ambassador Roxon.”

“These proposals… don’t you know very well that they are ridiculous Mr. Prime Minister?”

Katsura looked at Roxxon clenching his fists.

“What is America demanding from Britain?”

“Please read it.”

Ambassador Roxon took out a document that had been sleeping in his arms.

Katsura’s eyes widened when he saw the bangs at the very top.

“Are you saying we should revise the Anglo-Japanese Alliance?”

“Yes. The United States is afraid that our country and your country will join hands and go to war with them. Because of one clause in our alliance treaty we could end up in a two-front war.”

Katsura made a face that said it was ridiculous.

“How can our country and your country go to war with the United States?”

“That’s right. I used to think that way too. But…”

Roxxon quickly added:

“This incident has made it impossible for me to guarantee that this possibility is completely non-existent. Think about it Prime Minister. It is very common for individual deviations to escalate into international conflicts.”

Katsura quickly read the document Roxxon had handed him.

also.

As expected the clause is written that way.

“If one of the two countries engages in a war with a third country the allies will join the war and conduct joint operations. Are you saying that we should make an exception clause for the third country clause?”

“Yes I plan to insert a phrase excluding the United States.”

“What do they say in Downing Street?”

“I think the same way.”

“…”

“At first I was worried about whether I should do that but I think my thoughts have changed after this incident.”

It was like stepping down from the best partner.

In addition it was significant that it was no longer possible to rely solely on Britain and fight with the United States for vested interests in Manchuria.

It was an insertion of a phrase that did not feel very good for Japan.

“Still… our alliance will not waver so don’t worry too much.”

“I will think it over carefully.”

Katsura tried to buy some time.

But Ambassador Roxon was adamant.

“No we can’t. We have to do it immediately. We have to move faster than ever to appease the United States.”

Katsura eventually nodded to Roxon’s answer which was full of energy.

“All right.”

“Oh I said earlier that I would delegate the responsibility for setting immigration quotas to the US.”

“yes.”

“Let me add one more thing here. Do not stop Koreans from emigrating overseas.”

This is probably…

It seems to be to appease Morgan in the United States.

There is a rumor going around that Morgan favored Korean workers when building the Panama Canal.

Katsura nodded again thinking that this level of line was somewhat tolerable.

“All right.”

“Prince Lee Kang who was the target of assassination should be given something else in addition to the reinstatement of the title of King of Ui.”

Katsura narrowed his eyes and asked back.

“Ambassador. Don’t you know what it means to restore the title of King Ui?”

What does that mean?

It means that Lee Kang-i did nothing wrong at the International Peace Conference.

This is an action that will not only damage the Japanese government’s reputation but also weaken its power over the issue of Japan’s sovereignty over the Korean Peninsula.

“But what else do you want me to add to it?”

Katsura protested but the British ambassador remained adamant.

“Prime Minister.”

“Please speak Ambassador Roxon.”

“Isn’t Japan also a constitutional monarchy like our UK?”

“Yes.”

“I am sure the Prime Minister knows this well.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The characteristics of royalty. The royal family.”

Roxxon gave an example recalling members of his country’s royal family.

“They are the ones who are born with nobility from the moment they cut the umbilical cord and come into this world.”

Roxon mentioned Lee Kang’s title.

“The title of King of Ui was his from the beginning. At least that’s what Lee Kang thinks. But if you give back what was taken away will Lee Kang be happy?”

“…”

“No I don’t think so. I would be angry instead. I got what I deserved back but now you’re making a fuss by giving me this back.”

Britain has been studying this river a lot for some time.

That’s why I thought this level of compensation wouldn’t be enough.

“Then what should I give to Prince Lee Kang?”

“well.”

Roxon recharged his caffeine by drinking his cooling milk tea again.

Then he was quiet for a while making an expression as if to say “It’s your business so why should I worry about it?”

“Should we hand over these terrorist masterminds in Japan?”

“…”

“The people we are handing over are not the ordinary criminals Ambassador Roxxon thinks they are. They are also the people who led the fox hunts in the past.”

Katsura explained how much it meant to Lee Kang to hand them over.

“It will be a meaningful gift for Lee Kang. They are also the ones who harmed Lee Kang’s legal mother. How happy he will be to be able to take revenge on them with his own hands.”

If only Japan hadn’t existed.

Lee Kang’s succession to the throne would have become even more solid.

This means that Lee Kang killed the Japanese ronin who killed Queen Min.

Naturally his popularity in Joseon will rise.

Although everyone hates Queen Min the Japanese ronin who killed her are considered enemies of the Joseon people for killing their queen.

“Well I think this might not be enough…”

But Ambassador Roxon wasn’t stupid.

In a situation where the successor has already been decided.

What difference would it make if he handed over his legal mother’s murderers?

“In addition to that… let’s do this too.”

Recently Lee Kang ordered the mineral exploration engineer Hoover to explore mines in the Korean Peninsula and southern Manchuria.

An apple gift should be something that pleases the recipient.

That’s why Roxon and Downing Street were thinking of handing over one of the areas that Lee Kang was interested in.

It is a British decision that analyzes Lee Kang’s every move.

“Yes? Are you saying that I should hand over the mining rights and forestry rights in the Gando region to Lee Kang? And also the mining rights in Fushun that I received from Qing?”

“Isn’t Gando an empty land that your country’s personnel cannot enter due to the checks of the United States anyway? What difference would it make if you handed over a little bit of vested rights?”

Roxon mentioned the contents of the US-Japan Gentleman’s Agreement concluded in the past.

‘Ah…shit.’

The gentleman’s agreement is a non-binding agreement.

But if we make it explicit this time it will become binding.

A situation where you really can’t take it or leave it.

Ambassador Roxon wiggled one eyebrow as he watched Katsura hesitate.

“Oh is that because you are currently negotiating with Qing over Gando?”

A land you can’t even enter.

Japan intended to cede this land to the Qing and purchase various interests in South Manchuria.

Roxxon mentioned this.

“If that agreement is signed in this situation… I don’t think things will get much better.”

They tried to resolve the financial situation with no answer through the Gando Agreement.

The brakes were applied.

Katsura closed his eyes tightly for a moment and then looked at Roxxon.

“If you accept this can we finish here?”

It was practically like giving up.

He has expressed his intention to accept all of Roxxon’s demands so far.

“well.”

“Do you mean we have to go further from here?”

What else are you asking for here?

Katsura opened his eyes wide and glanced at Roxxon.

At this Roxxon shrugged his shoulders.

“Isn’t there still one left?”

“What’s left? Isn’t this enough to comfort the United States and Lee Kang?”

Roxxon snorted and crossed his arms again.

“We mediated between Japan and them… Were we not left behind?”

If Ambassador Roxon hadn’t been staring at Katsura Katsura would have slapped his hand on his forehead.

‘Fucking British bastards.’

right.

The original hate country Britain remains.

They were trying to mediate this situation and threaten Japan into giving them a favor.

After all there is something to be gained by becoming a mediator.

It was the same during the last Opium War.

Didn’t Russia mediate between Britain and the Qing Dynasty and gobble up the vast land of Maritime Province?

Roxon looked at Katsura and whispered softly.

“We want…”

< Price > End